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Saturday, August 13, 2016

5 Things to Consider When Deciding Which Course of Action to Take

Likely, you have many ideas. Concepts for plans and products you could execute, books you could write, and contacts you could make. But how do you decide which ones would be most worth your time and take you the furthest?

By taking fear and paralysis out of the picture (fearing making
the wrong move so not making one at all -- which is also a decision of sorts)
and replacing them with expectation and purpose, you can make wise choices that
will move you forward. Here are 5 things to consider when deciding which course
of action to take.

1. Do your homework, and set an action date.

An inexpensive wall calendar is good for this. Take it apart and
arrange it so you can see several months at a time on the side of your fridge or
office wall. Once you figured out your realistic timeline on paper, plot it on
your calendar and start working towards it.

2. Know that action brings momentum and moves you forward and let go of
your worries about failure.

For most decisions, the stakes are not as high as you may think.
Keep your research or first drafts safe. Even if you decide to change
direction, they can serve you well in a future project. Authors have backlists
of books they've previously written they often pull out when the time is right
after a few successes. Think of this preliminary work as investment into later
into your writing career as well.

3. Don't get married to the plan. That spot is reserved for the
outcome.

Each writer is different. Each life circumstance is different.
Each season of life is different. Pull together the advice that works for you
and make it go to work. If you are losing momentum, energy, inspiration, or
time; tweak your strategy accordingly. It's fine to shift to shorter sessions
earlier or later in the day or to cram production into a block of time you've
been able to set aside. Whatever works for you.

4. Plot your course by working backwards.

What would you need to achieve your final result? What steps would
bring you to that point? What could you do today that would bring you to closer
to those steps? Identify content and process you need to research, and contacts
you need to make. And keep writing.

5. Enjoy the ride.

Celebrate the steps you take and the tasks you accomplish that get
you closer to where you are aiming to go. It is not failure if it doesn't come
together immediately. You are setting the stage for future success and enjoying
the process along the way. Connecting with why this goal is important to you
helps keep this in perspective.

introducing

I am at work on my third book and I fit writing into the moments I am not at the job I love at our local university or hanging out with family and friends (disclosure: if you are my family and friends and catch me staring off into space, i may be writing the next scene while we hang out ;) I share home with my computer-building husband, our three highly entertaining sons, and a very emotionally needy cat.